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Emirates Flight Training Academy’s Record Graduate Cohort Creates Steady Pilot Pipeline

Dubai, UAE – Courage, commitment and passion were all in evidence on December 18, 2024 at Emirates Flight Training Academy’s (EFTA) fifth graduation ceremony, which marked the academy’s biggest cohort to date. EFTA also announced the launch of an Advanced Diploma in Pilot Licensing Training (Aeroplane) on the back of the academy’s recognition as an Accredited Training Provider (ATP) by the UAE National Qualifications Centre (NQC).

The graduation ceremony was headlined by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline & Group, the Group’s senior leadership team, graduates, their families and friends, and the academy’s faculty and cadets.

HH Sheikh Ahmed congratulated and presented certificates to the cadet graduates. He said: “Our Emirates Flight Training Academy was built on a vision and a solid strategy, and its journey so far has been nothing short of inspiring, even thrilling. The recognition by the NQC validates our commitment and our robust investments in our academy that is future-fit for the next generation.

EFTA plays a vital role in nurturing the next generation of pilots, not just for the industry in the UAE but for world aviation, creating a steady and talented pilot pipeline. It’s incredible that we are training, developing and empowering young adults to drive the future of aviation – right here in Dubai. I’m confident our graduates will make their mark in shaping the future of our industry. Congratulations to the class of 2024!”

After months of rigorous training on the ground and in the skies, 85 bright and talented cadets are now fully equipped to take on every aviator challenge. The cohort includes 67 UAE National and 18 international cadets. Since EFTA’s launch, 271 cadets have been transformed from school leavers with no knowledge of flying to world-class professional pilots. EFTA also honoured four cadets for their exceptional performance throughout the year: Humaid Al Hammadi, Abdulla Raeisi, Alessandro Muffolini and Sarah Shah; and Abdulla Alkaabi for being the most diligent.

Capt Abdulla Al Hammadi, Divisional Vice President Emirates Flight Training Academy said: “Today, we’ve witnessed not just a graduation ceremony, but the fulfilment of many collective dreams. After countless hours of hard work, challenges and accomplishments, our cadets have proven they are ready to conquer the skies. They’ve come far – both personally and professionally – and EFTA is proud to see them step into a world full of opportunities with their new and richly deserved wings. Congratulations to our graduates!

Our new Advanced Diploma in Pilot Licensing Training will be available to all EFTA graduates and will provide a strong academic foundation for future professional pilots, complementing the exceptional practical skills they’ve developed with us. At EFTA, we continue to elevate aviation education and prepare the next generation of skilled aviators, further supporting the GCAA* and strengthening the UAE’s aviation industry.”

The Diploma, with 94 credit hours, paves the path for cadets to obtain Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from any university.

Every cadet in the class of 2024 completed around 113 weeks of training with over 1,100 hours of ground-based and 270 hours of flight training. Located in Dubai South, the Academy combines cutting-edge learning technologies and a modern fleet of 32 training aircraft to train cadets with no previous knowledge of flying.

This year marked a brand new chapter in EFTA’s international journey as the academy is well on its way to achieving European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) accreditation in early 2025. With this, cadets who graduate from EFTA will receive both a GCAA and an EASA** licence, opening doors to exceptional career opportunities worldwide.

*GCAA General Civil Aviation Authority
**European Union Aviation Safety Agency

Cadet quote:

At the graduation, speaking on behalf of the Class of 2024, Faris Ahmed, cadet graduate said: “Growing up, I was inspired by my father’s love of aviation and I followed in his footsteps to take to the skies. These past few years have been life-changing, to say the least. They were filled with intense training, unwavering support, and the forging of lifelong bonds.

We’ve spent countless hours in simulators and classrooms, mastering every tiny detail. And who could forget the thrill of our first solo flight or when we saw the inside of a flight deck for the very first time? Today’s ceremony not only signifies the years of commitment and diligence, but the beginning of our careers as professional pilots, having received the highest standards of training from this world-class academy.”

Source: Emirates Flight Training Academy
Photo Credit: Emirates Flight Training Academy

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Air India Orders 34 Trainer Aircraft for its New Flight School

  •  Air India has placed an order for 31 single-engine aircraft from Piper Aircraft and 3 twin-engine aircraft from Diamond Aircraft
  • Delivery of the aircraft will begin in 2025, strengthening Air India’s commitment to power India’s aviation ecosystem in the coming years

Air India, India’s leading global airline, has placed an order for 34 trainer aircraft as it prepares to start training of cadet pilots at South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation (FTO) coming up in Amravati, Maharashtra by the second half of 2025, post regulatory approvals.

The order includes 31 single-engine aircraft from Piper Aircraft in the United States and 3 twin-engine aircraft from Diamond Aircraft in Austria.

The FTO is a leap forward in Air India’s commitment to bolster its training infrastructure as part of its Vihaan.AI transformation program and cultivate a pipeline of pilots as it expands its fleet, becoming self-reliant.

The trainer aircraft, due for delivery starting 2025, are equipped with glass cockpits, G1000 avionics systems and Jet A1 engines that will ensure advanced training for aspiring pilots.

The FTO is coming up at Amravati’s Belora airport and will target to graduate 180 commercial pilots every year.

“The new FTO is a strategic move to exponentially expand our training infrastructure and our commitment to building a self-reliant ecosystem of qualified pilots for both Air India and the Indian aviation industry. With this order of 34 trainer aircraft to support South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation, we are delighted to be playing a part in building the aviation infrastructure India needs as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets and to support the government’s vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat,”said Sunil Bhaskaran, Director, Aviation Academy, Air India.

As part of its commitment to invest in aviation training, Air India opened its new Aviation Training Academy, spread over 600,000 sq ft, the largest in South Asia, in Gurugram. It is also the first airline in India to announce the setting up of an FTO that will complement Air India’s commitment to power India’s aviation ecosystem in the coming years.

At the FTO in Amravati, Air India is developing a state-of-the-art training institute over 10 acres, with digitally enabled classrooms at par with global academies, hostels, a digitized operations center, and its own maintenance facility to elevate operational efficiency. The FTO is curated to deliver best-in-class training with high safety standards.

Source: Air India

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Air India Training Academy Growing to Become South Asia’s Largest Aviation Training Institute

Gurugram, India – Air India’s Training Academy, located on a sprawling 600,000-square-foot campus in Gurugram, stands to grow to become South Asia’s largest aviation training institution, designed to support the airline’s vision of becoming a world-class carrier. With state-of-the-art facilities and comprehensive programs, the academy aims to develop industry-ready aviation professionals, bolstering India’s rapidly growing aviation market.

  • Pilot Training Expansion:
    • Plans to establish 20 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) bays for Airbus and Boeing fleets in collaboration with OEMs.
    • Advanced simulators will enhance pilot readiness for upcoming aircraft deliveries.
  • Comprehensive Training Offerings:
    • Cabin crew training in Safety and Emergency Procedures (SEP), service protocols, grooming, and voice and accent skills.
    • Ground and security staff training in departure control, customer service, and airport security.
    • Management training programs in commercial operations, HR, and leadership.
  • Focus on Practical Learning:
    • Immersive and real-world training experiences, such as Door Training for emergency and routine operational procedures.
    • Facilities equipped to simulate real-life scenarios, enabling crew to handle emergencies seamlessly.

Future Plans

  • Scaling Training Capacity:
    • The academy aims to train over 50,000 Air India professionals, including pilots, cabin crew, ground staff, engineers, and security personnel, in the coming years.
  • Expansion Projects:
    • Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Amravati, Maharashtra, featuring 31 single-engine and 3 twin-engine aircraft.
    • A new Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) school to ensure a steady supply of skilled engineers for Air India’s modern fleet.

Statements

  • Sunil Bhaskaran, Director of the Air India Training Academy, remarked: “To fulfill our goals of becoming a world-class airline, we have invested in building a state-of-the-art integrated training academy in Gurugram. It brings to life Air India’s ambition to establish best-in-class training for all aviation disciplines.”

Source: Air India

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Air India Cadet’s Complete Ground School Head to AeroGuard Flight Training Center in the US in 2025

Phoenix, United States headquartered global flight training group AeroGuard Flight Training Center, which operates a number of flight training bases in the United States, has congratulated Batch 3 of the Air India Cadets for completing the Ground School portion at the Air India Training Academy in partnership with ThePilot.In

The Air India cadet pilot program individuals start their training journey at the Air India Training Academy for their Ground School phase and gain exposure to the airlines culture. After completing their ground school training and exams in India, the cadets will come to AeroGuard’s Phoenix, Arizona base in the United States to conduct their flight training and establish the skills required for their professional pilot careers with Air India.

About AeroGuard Flight Training Center
AeroGuard Flight Training Center is a global leader in ab initio flight training with three U.S. campuses that offer accelerated commercial pilot training programs to candidates from all over the world. With a commitment to safety and student success, AeroGuard’s high quality training has established airline-ready cadets for over 20 years with more than one million flight hours of training experience and graduating over 7,000 cadets.

Source: AeroGuard Flight Training Center

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UK-Headquartered Pilot Training Group Leading Edge Aviation Partners with TUI to Offer Student Pilots Clear Pathway to Employment

Oxford, United Kingdom – Leading Edge Aviation, which operates flight training bases in the United Kingdom and Spain, is thrilled to announce an innovative partnership with TUI Airline to launch a groundbreaking tagging scheme designed to provide student pilots with a clear, structured pathway to employment through conditional job offers.

Leading Edge Aviation, a trailblazer in flight training, is the first UK-based academy to collaborate with TUI on this pioneering tagging scheme, offering students an exciting new route into the aviation industry.

Through this scheme, TUI will identify talented student pilots at Leading Edge by assessing their performance through interviews, evaluations, and theoretical examinations. The airline’s UK pilot recruitment team will conduct testing and interviews to select students who demonstrate exceptional potential. Once “tagged,” these students will receive a conditional employment offer from TUI, contingent upon meeting specific milestones throughout their training

Kathryn Cleaver, TUI Pilot Manager, commented: “This initiative allows us to identify and nurture top talent early in their training, giving students the confidence and clarity they need to transition into professional flying careers. Leading Edge students are known for their exceptional dedication and potential, and we are excited to offer them the opportunity to launch their careers with TUI. We are committed to the development of graduate pilots, and we look forward to welcoming our first candidates in the summer of 2026.”

Andy McFarlane, CEO of Leading Edge Aviation, said: “At Leading Edge, we are passionate about providing our students with the best possible foundation for a long and successful career in aviation. Our partnership with TUI aligns with our ‘Whole Pilot’ training philosophy and reflects our mutual commitment to supporting the next generation of pilots through structured career pathways. This collaboration is a fantastic opportunity for our students to begin their careers with a globally respected airline.”

This partnership underscores the shared goal of TUI and Leading Edge to cultivate new talent in the aviation sector and address the industry’s growing need for skilled pilots. The tagging scheme offers aspiring pilots the assurance that their dedication and hard work will lead to clear career opportunities with one of the world’s most respected airlines.

About Leading Edge Aviation
Leading Edge Aviation is a rapidly expanding pilot training academy with a fresh approach and an emphasis on holistic training. Offering the highest standards of regulatory technical training, students also benefit from a comprehensive professional and personal development curriculum to enhance non-technical skills.

Based at London Oxford Airport and Alhama, Southern Spain with a commitment to holistic pilot development, Leading Edge Aviation offers a range of modular and integrated training programmes, including the innovative LEAP (Leading Edge Airline Preparation) course; a full-time integrated course with BSc degree (UK only) and a comprehensive graduate airline selection preparation workshop. Facilities at both locations support a comprehensive educational experience, combining modern aircraft and simulators, advanced learning technologies, and a vibrant student living environment.

Leading Edge also delivers modular training (including Ground School, MECPL, CBIR, MEIR, uMAP (university Modular Airline Preparation), A-UPRT (Advanced Upset Prevention Recovery Training), APC MCC (Airline Pilot Standards Multi Crew Co-operation) at its UK base in Oxford.  

Source: Leading Edge Aviation
Photo Credit: Leading Edge Aviation

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OSM Aviation Academy Signs New Partnership Agreement with Norwegian in December 2024

Global pilot training group OSM Aviation Academy and Norwegian have signed a partnership agreement, creating opportunities for students at the flight school to pursue a career with the airline after completing their pilot training.

“We are very pleased with this partnership with Norwegian, as it provides our students with a unique opportunity to start their careers as pilots in a well-established and recognized airline after completing their training. The fact that Norwegian has once again chosen to collaborate with us is proof that we are educating competent pilots who are attractive in the job market,” says Martin Floor, Managing Director of OSM Aviation Academy.

Many of the large international airlines are short on pilots. In the USA, several airlines have had to reduce their routes and cancel flights. Analyses show that the need for pilots will continue to increase going forward, and Norwegian estimates that they will need many new pilots in the coming years to meet planned growth in demand and an upcoming generational shift in the industry.

This is a great way for us to attract pilots. With this new agreement, we get the opportunity to get to know the cadets during their education. This also allows those who are hired by Norwegian to start working immediately while receiving Type-rating course for the aircraft the company operates, as well as other necessary theory and advanced training courses,” says Guro Poulsen, PEOPLE Director at Norwegian.

The partnership involves Norwegian actively participating in the training and selection of future candidates.

About OSM Aviation Academy
OSM Aviation Academy has trained pilots since 1963 and is shaping the future of aviation by offering first-class education for the next generation of pilots and services for airlines. OSM Aviation Academy aims to train enough qualified and competent pilots in the coming years. During pilot training, the focus is on reducing climate emissions and ensuring diversity in the industry. The flight school offers education in Norway, Sweden, and the USA.

Source: OSM Aviation Academy
Photo Credit: OSM Aviation Academy

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